Photos above: Copyright Ofelia Rivas, O'odham. (Top) The Defense of the Water in Vicam Pueblo, Sonora, with Yaqui authorities, CNI representatives and organizers of the event. At the Indigenous National Congress on Yaqui's Vicam Pueblo, Zapatistas are the Stronghold
By Brenda Norrell
Censored News
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.comaNovember 23, 2010
Photo: Ofelia Rivas at Bolivia Climate Summit/Copyright Ben Powless
VICAM PUEBLO, Sonora, Mexico -- The Zapatistas joined Indigenous Peoples from throughout Mexico at the Yaquis’ Vicam Pueblo in Sonora, Mexico, for the National Indigenous Congress. With the urgent message, “In Defense of Water,” Indigenous Peoples united in the struggle for autonomy and protection of Mother Earth.
Ofelia Rivas, founder of the O’odham Voice Against the Wall from the US/Mexico border region, was a member of the O’odham traditional delegation. Zapatista Comandantes from Chiapas joined Indigenous from Michoacán, Veracruz, Oaxaca and throughout Mexico.
While focused on the defense of water, Rivas recognized the Zapatistas as the Stronghold for Indigenous Peoples and pointed out the systematic displacement of Indigenous Peoples in Mexico.
Rivas said O’odham went to Vicam Pueblo as members of the National Indigenous Congress, Nov. 20-21, to support the people in defense of water and to discuss land, water, autonomy and the impacts of bad government.
O’odham also brought their message.
In northern Sonora, a road is being constructed through O’odham land, which O’odham never gave consent for. O'odham did not give consent for the use of their water. Both their fresh lagoons and the Sea of Cortez, as non-O‘odham refer to it, are impacted by this new development.
She said during the Congress the people created a strong Declaration from the National Indigenous Congress and the Yaqui Peoples. While there, Yaqui shared the story of their water, which originates in the Sierra Madres. The precious water of Yaquis is now targeted by the Mexican government, which plans to build an aqueduct to divert it.
“Even in Mexico, the treaties with the Yaquis have never been honored,” Rivas said, pointing out that both Mexico and the United States have failed to honor Indian treaties.
Rivas said Mexico’s new project would further divert water that Yaquis use for agriculture and survival. As a result, Yaquis have filed a lawsuit in Obregon against Mexico to regain their water rights.
Rivas said traveling in Mexico means enduring checkpoints and always wondering whether one would make it to their destination. (The Rio Yaqui pueblos are located about an eight-hour drive south of the US/Mexico border.)
While camping in Vicam Pueblo for three days, O’odham were honored to observe the strong Yaqui culture and ceremonies. Rivas urged support for the Yaquis to halt the systematic oppression, which will diminish their way of life.
“They need the support of all people.”
“The government is dividing the people to fight amongst each another.”
With increased removal for their homelands by the government of Mexico, Yaqui and other Indigenous Peoples are now faced with displacement and separation from their communities, long known as one of the first steps in the genocide of peoples.
“It looks like the reservation system," she said.
Rivas said Mexico is removing Indian people from their territories while claiming that new programs will end their poverty with subsistence.
Meanwhile, the killing continues.
“They are still killing us, Indigenous Peoples, throughout Mexico.”
While the bloodshed continues, Rivas said Indigenous Peoples are continuing to build autonomy and addressing bad government.
This new unity and strength of Indigenous Peoples is resulting in fresh attacks from governments and corporations. She said the bad government sees the people standing up.
“This is the reason for the new attacks; there is a building of strength of Indigenous Peoples from throughout all the world.”
“We will always stand up for the defense of the water, the defense of the land, the defense of our autonomy, the defense of our way of life.”
Reflecting on the role of the Zapatistas, she said, “The uprising of the people has been the Stronghold.”
“The Zapatistas are the Stronghold for us Indigenous Peoples. They were pushed to the limit, where they said ‘OK, enough is enough! We are not going to let them take our lands, take our way of life, take our food, take our culture and exploit who we are as people.’”
“We’ve existed for thousands of years in our own systems. It is our way of life. We governed ourselves.”
“It has always been in defense for all creation, it has never been for individuals, specific organizations or governments. It has always been in defense of all living things. That is still the message of the Zapatistas.”
“This bad government is trying to dismantle that and divide the people.”
In Vicam, O’odham described the militarization of their homeland, Tohono O’odham land on the US/Mexico border.
“Every other day the helicopter comes at night, spotlights the homes and goes back and forth.” No one explains to the people what the Border Patrol is doing, working at night in the desert with heavy machinery.
For O’odham who gather firewood or venture out at night, asking questions of the Border Patrol means risking one’s life, detainment or harassment.
O’odham women cannot sleep at night.
Rivas, co-chair of the Working Group on Indigenous Peoples at the Bolivia Climate Summit, is now preparing to attend the UN Climate Summit in Cancun, Nov. 29--Dec. 10, 2010, as an Indigenous grassroots delegate.
Indigenous Peoples and campesinas are arriving by caravans and establishing tent communities and marches during the summit.
Rivas said she will carry from Cochabamba to Cancun the strength of the people. She will also carry the hope of the people in the United Nations, that it will work for real change. She said governments must stop denying global warming and set standards to decrease emissions, in order “to halt the contamination of the air we breathe and the water we drink.”
“The huge governments, developed nations, need to be responsible.”
Rivas encouraged Indigenous Peoples to remain centered in their traditions.
“We need to return to our ceremonial way of life, return to our prayers and start really concentrating on the well-being of Mother Earth, which is how we survived these thousands and thousands of years as Indigenous Peoples.”
“We need to go back to that and for people to realize that we have not disappeared off the land. We are still here.”
“We need to survive through Mother Earth and be responsible. Protect Mother Earth in any way you can,” she said, urging simple acts like not buying throwaway plastics.
“We need to remember to return to those roots. It will really make a change in our lives.”
Listen to Ofelia Rivas' interview on this gathering of the National Indigenous Congress on the Defense of Water.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/brenda-norrell
Read Yaquis statement: In Defense of Water
http://censored-news.blogspot.com/2010/11/zapatistas-yaqui-in-defense-of-wateral.html
National Indigenous Congress: Official document 'En Defensa del Agua'
English translation: Declaration 'In Defense of Water' http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2010/11/vicam-pueblo-in-defense-of-water.html
Article copyright Ofelia Rivas, Brenda Norrell, Censored News
Photo copyrights Ben Powless, Ofelia Rivas
May not be used without permission
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